Hillsdale College will host the third-annual Constitution Day Shoot at the college’s Shooting Sports Center on Sept. 22.
Originally limited to 150 people, 225 students, faculty, and friends of the college are expected to attend Saturday’s shoot. Other events besides shooting include a lecture from Dean of the Graduate School Ronald Pestritto, a free lunch, and a ground-breaking ceremony for the shooting range’s new club house.
Cheryl Clawson, event coordinator, said the event has grown every year. She expects people to attend from across the tri-state area.
The day begins at 9 a.m. in Phillips Auditorium. There, Pestritto will give a lecture on the Constitution and the upcoming presidential election. Following the lecture, Bart Spieth, head coach of the college’s shooting team, will brief the crowd on shooting safety. Participants must attend the lecture and acquire a wristband to be allowed to shoot.
From there, the crowd will take shuttles to the college shooting range, where the ground-breaking ceremony for the Shooting Sports and Education Center will be held.
The construction of the building was made possible by the William S. and Ann Atherton Foundation, which gave a grant for the building, and the Roland L. Ebersole Scholarship, which funded the property’s purchase. A new skeet range will also be dedicated in honor of the Hal and Jean Glassen Memorial Foundation.
The college will provide .22-caliber long rifles and handguns, as well as 9 mm pistols. Attendees may bring their own shotguns, rifles, or handguns.
The event is expected to conclude at 4:30 p.m.